Bali Dive Operators Asked to Show Their Licenses

During the first week of September 2009, joint enforcement teams comprised of officials from the Bali provincial government, tourism police, water police, public prosecutors, members of the Water Sport Association (Gahawisri Bali), environmental authorities and tourism officials visited dive operators in the regency of Buleleng, north Bali.

In the continuing phase of monitoring and survey activities intended to eventually visit all dive operators operating in Bali, five diving operators in Buleleng were charged with operating with incomplete permits and, in two instances, with no permits whatsoever. The five companies netted in the sweep were: Spice Dive, Wisnu Dive Center, Sunrise Dive, Malibu Lovina and CV Permai Dive. According to Bali Post, two companies Spice Dive and Wisnu Dive Center have no licenses at all, while the remaining operators have temporary licenses. Officials said that those holding temporary licenses have been given six months to complete the licensing process.

In July, similar sweeps in the Karangasem regency of Bali netted 22 illegal dive operations, with five of those brought before the courts on July 30, 2009.

Officials indicate that their sweeping operations against illegal dive operators will soon conduct sweeps in the Badung Regency and Denpasar.